A joint Southland energy strategy has created plenty of debate among the region's councils, which are yet to make a decision.

The councils agreed on a plan and strategy in 2011 but were asked at a recent Venture Southland joint committee meeting to create a policy framework to implement the strategy.

A suggested framework had been put forward by Venture at the meeting, but reservations were expressed by the district council and Gore District.

A debate about a revised policy framework ensued.

Venture Southland enterprise and strategic projects group manager Steve Canny gave a report to the meeting which said there had been extensive consultations on the joint policy framework and options for implementing an energy strategy.

Although it sat with Venture Southland, it needed to be more integrated into the normal day-to-day processes of council.

The most appropriate thing to do was establish a project working group which would report back to the appropriate body.

It would liaise with the relevant council operations staff, the report said.

Southland District Council chief executive David Adamson did not agree and expressed concerns about lumping more work on busy council staff. The policy would not be core business for the council and there was a limit to what the staff could do.

Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks said there was an issue to see if councils could cope with the policy and recommended it be taken to each council for discussion before decisions were made.